ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Raptors 11/3/2004

It was Toronto that was making some stupid, crazy shots today. Rockets have horrid jumpshooters now. Look at the last two games for the Yao and JJ. Yao didn't score against the Pistons except with 2 dunks. JJ was 3 for 10 overall and 1 for 4 from 3 point range against the Pistons. Tonight Yao got a fadeaway jumper to go down. That was it. Everything else had to be scored right next to the basket or from the FT line. JJ was 3 for 7 overall and 1 for 4 from 3 point range tonight.

Raptors made long distance shots galore today.

It's game freaking over when 2 of the starters can't shoot from long distance.

 

Its early but JVG and the team needs to show some urgency, we are past the point of the posts last week that its only the preseason. 0-4 is a definite if Rox play the next two games like the next two. No chemistry, team looks like 5 dudes getting together to play a pickup game. Yao's conditioning looks better but he hasn't improved which worries me. He's added nothing since last season, still faces up and shoots that short jumper, still turns the ball over way too often, still plays soft and small. Dude you are 7-6/310 act like it.

 

Van: Now thats what the Rockets need to do, get the ball to McGrady.

Next Possesion

Van: Now thats what the Rockets need to do, get the ball to Yao more.

Next Possesion

Van: Now the Rockets really need to go to McGrady right here.

(Yao gets the ball in the post and drops in a layup)

Van: Now thats what the Rockets really need to do, get the ball to Yao.

Next Possesion (Turnover)

Van: Now, thats what the Rockets need to quit doin, turnin da ball over.

Next Possesion-Vince hits jumpshot

Van: Now the Rockets need to find a way to get the ball out of Carters hands before he shoots it.

Next Possesion

Van: Now thats what the Rockets need to do, get MoT the ball.

Next Possesion-foul on Carter

Van: Now thats what the Rockets need to do, foul Vince before he can get to the hole.

Next Possesion-Toronto has ran off 10 in a row.

Van: Now the Rockets really need to come up with a way to stop Toronto right here.



By the time they get to Houston for the opener, Van will be wearing pink suits, chomping catfish, hushpuppies, and biscuits, and slirping coleslaw during timeouts.

 

This only happened when the Raptors decided not to front Yao. When the Raptors put the aggressive fronting defensive strategy back on, there was no way the Rockets could get the ball to Yao which meant the Rockets had to improvise which meant game over for the Rockets.

 

Teams using the fronting defense mainly on Yao, but I've seen it used on JJ and Mo. Rockets are just as futile getting the ball to these guys too when they want to post up. It's just more obvious with Yao since the defenders do it all the time. Every single time down the court, the defender immediately sticks his back into Yao's chest in order to prevent the easy post pass.

There was only one screen and roll play in which Yao actually scored when TMac passed to him. He drove to the basket rather than take the jumper. I'm very surprised at how much of a bricker Yao is. It's almost like a disease on the team. JJ has it. Yao has it. I'm afraid TMac might get it too. If JVG does not see this, he better see it.

 

I disagree, they were still trying to front him. But he was getting down in a crouch and keeping them on his back, and the guards were making a determined effort to get him the ball quicker. On one possesion, the defender climbed over, and Yao immediately swung to the right block, the ball was reversed quickly, and he was posted up low on that side. That was the play where he threw it to the left wing for the Boki jumper. (Can you spell miss?) Still it was a good play. The whole thing was, Yao was coming down into the lane, facing the defender, and once he contacted the defender, he was posting up and feeling the defender on his back. The defender doesnt have time to front in that situation if the guards get him the ball.

 

Memphis is getting spanked at home by the Wizards without Hughes and Gilbert (Antawn going off for 32 and counting), so there is hope.

 

Let's analyze Yao's turnovers:

1. Yao dips shoulder on Woods, offensive foul. Picked his dribble up too early, and had to create separation.

2. Yao clears a path for JJ to take it to the hoop. JJ precedes to take 5 dribbles to the basket. In the meantime, Yao is holding the defender at bay and gets called for the moving screen.

3. Yao tries posting up, and you can hear Toronto's assistant coaching yelling "3! 3! 3!" Yao eventually gets out of the lane. play continues for a few seconds before the ref calls yao for 3 seconds, even though it looked to me like he got out. Must have had a toe in there.

4. Yao sets a pick, defender runs into him, falls down. third offensive foul for yao.

5. basically the same as #3.

6. Yao gets an offensive rebound and is stripped by Rafer.

Looking at these turnovers, several of them are just the results of very ticky tack calls. Sure, they are TECHNICALLY fouls, but does Shaq not move people while playing? Maybe its the whole playing on the road phenomena, but the refs are definately calling everything humanly possible. The two 3 second violations were very very weak. Both times, the ref called it after Yao left the paint and starting establishing position again. Maybe Yao just needs to be more careful and get his whole foot out of the lane, but is it really necessary to make that call?

The positives from all this: Yao isnt making bad passes so far. The few times he received the ball and was doubled, he sent laser passes to the open man, usually resulting in a 3 or dunk.

I don't know why i just analyzed these turnovers, but i'm just tired of the refs shackling yao. Our star going to the bench with foul trouble in every game so far is not really helping us find our identity. Notice that Yao isn't even really committing many defensive fouls at all. I guess thats a plus.

 

I'm glad McGrady already signed the re-up...
0-5 might have him thinking of last season.

 

Anyone remember that "left block,ball reversal?"

It's not a high-post play. But rather is starts as Yao being fronted, left block. We purposely allow the front, rotate the ball, and the Yao spins/flashes into the lane for a pass.

THIS team doesn't know that play yet. That's another weapon we need to learn.

 

I really think they should do what Van Chancellor suggested about getting the ball to Yao. Lob the ball up there. Yao will at least have a height advantage of getting to the pass which should be in between him and the basket. Ward may be best at this role since he used to be a QB.

 

The whole key is getting him the ball before they can front him.

 

If teams front him, do the old Billy "whopper" Paultz play and pass it off the backboard to Yao as he seals his man off for an easy 2.

That would stop the fronting d quickly.

Of course that would also require JVG to utilize some innovation, so I think the chances of that happening are less than 5%.

DD

 

The debut of Jeff Van Gundy Show? It looks like JVG doesn't want to become Jimi Williams. I would like to see the topic of the horrid outside shooting and the fronting defenses.

 

this is awful....

 

Ahhhh, you mean the old Mo Malone play. We saw the beginnings of that tonight on one play. Lue drove the left side. The fronting defender on Yao left Yao to go after Lue and Lue threw it off the board to Yao for the lay in. Ive been waiting for that play to develop for 2 years now. You know, it makes you wonder about JVGs offensive prowess when we can sit here and draw up plays that are so obvious to the casual fan. The dude is 7-6. When they front him, let him turn around and just throw the rock off the window for crying out loud. We used that play in high school.

 

As a follow up, I'll discuss Tmac.

The guy simply does not run. i don't know how you can play basketball in the nba and only jog from point A to point B, but I am already tired of it. Someone sets a pick off the ball, he jogs around it. Shockingly, he doesnt create any separation from his defender.

Tmac is showing no hustle whatsoever out there. No running after loose balls, no real defensive intensity. Why wasn't Tmac guarding Carter more? JJ sure as hell couldn't keep up with him.

And last but not least, I'm beginning to hate the wide array of jumpshots. Early in each game so far, he has taken it to the hole and scored easily. Then, he just stops putting pressure on the defense. We all know he's a great player, but he doesn't even try to get the easiest possible shot. What the hell was up with the play at the end of the third quarter? Dribbled the ball for 9 seconds and forced up a 27 footer. If we wanted that, we could have kept Francis. And Francis would at least hustle and dive for loose balls.

In conclusion, hopefully he's just not comfortable out there with the team, and he's not trying to step on any toes. Maybe i'm just spoiled on the kind of hustle Steve and Cat played with. Maybe the whole team is just tired and has some heavy legs. But I'm not going to appreciate it if Tmac keeps playing like a corpse out there.

 

Call Phil Jackson. 9 Championships speak for itself.

 

It's almost maniacal to see how ineffective the Rockets are at getting the ball to Yao in the low post. This is an issue that has been present for quite some time. I wouldn't mind seeing what you suggested. I wouldn't mind seeing lobs. I would like to see something different.

What the heck is going through JVG's mind?

 

The trap defense.